Industry & People: April 2013

COMINGS AND GOINGS

>>LVMH has appointed Jean-Christophe­ Babin, the longtime head of TAG Heuer, to CEO of ­Bulgari. At press time, it was not known who would replace Babin at TAG Heuer.

Mary Forte

Jayne Conway

>>?Mary Forte, onetime president and CEO of Zale Corp., has been appointed acting CEO of ­jewelry, diamond, and watch buyer CIRCA. She replaces cofounder Chris Del Gatto, who left this summer. CIRCA also promoted Jayne Conway from chief administrative officer and chief financial officer to chief operating officer; she will retain her CFO role.

>>?Terri Maupin, chief accounting officer of Blue Nile, will resign from her position effective July 1.

>>?The Folli Follie Group, the Greek jeweler that owns the Links of London brand, appointed Declan Delanty as its managing director.

>>?Sterling Jewelers has announced the promotions of three management employees to vice president. Eric McIntyre has been promoted to vice president of the inventory management, ­planning, and allocation control team (IMPACT); Jill Frantz to the role of vice president of lending and credit compliance; and Suzanne Shane to the role of vice president of credit risk, technology, and financial management.

François-Henry Bennahmias

>>?François-Henry Bennahmias has been named CEO of the Audemars Piguet Group. Bennahmias has served as general manager on an interim basis since last May. He stepped into that role following the abrupt departure of CEO Philippe Merk.

>>?Claire’s Stores has appointed Linda Hefner Filler president of Claire’s North America. Hefner Filler joins Claire’s from Walmart Corp., where she most recently served as executive vice president and chief merchandising officer for Sam’s Club.

REMEMBERED

>>?Irvine Robinson, who owned I&R Jewelers in Silver Spring, Md., died Jan. 4 at age 93.

>>?Milton Bugay, owner of Bugay’s ­Jewelers in Philadelphia, died Dec. 31 at age 92. Bugay and his late wife managed Bugay’s from 1958 until 2003, when their children took over.

>>?Chris DeCapri, founder and CEO of Capri ­Jewelers in Richmond, Va., died of cancer on Feb. 20 at age 51.

COMPANIES

>>?Royal Asscher has formed a strategic alliance with Sparkle Roll Group Ltd., a leading distributor of luxury goods in China. The partnership is for 10 years, with a renewal option for another 10.

ASSOCIATIONS

>>?The Jewelers Vigilance Committee has published the latest installment in its Essential Guide series, The Essential Guide to the U.S. Trade in Materials From Plant and Wildlife Products. It includes information on trade laws, penalties and fines, import-export licenses, and obtaining permits.

>>?The Jewelers Board of Trade has announced that its Sectional Red Book is now available on the iPad and iPhone. The mobile app allows sales executives to call up company names, addresses, and credit ratings for jewelry businesses in specified geographic territories.